October 19, 2017
In ‘Secret Superstar’, a teenager wishes to be a singing star. But her conservative father will beat her black and blue if she’s caught pursing this line. Thankfully, she has the full backing of her mother; and Youtube and a burkha allows her a chance…
Starring: Zaira Wasim, Meher Vij, Raj Arjun
Director: Advait Chandan
India release date: Oct 18, 2017
Genre: Family drama
Language: Hindi
Duration: 2 hours 30 mins
“In the 1995 blockbuster Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, the mood of the house changes as soon as its patriarch (Amrish Puri) rings the bell. Before that, it was alive with Western music, with the girls dancing with each other, and their mother breaking into a twist in the kitchen… A diametrically opposite scene, imbued with similar themes, appears halfway through Secret Superstar, when the patriarch of the house leaves for work.”
Tanul Thakur, The Wire
“Overcoming stronger obstacles makes for stronger characters. But here everything appears too predictable… Leaves you a little frustrated as it had solid potential to be a cracker of a film.”
Karan Bali, Upper Stall
“Cheerful, feel-good imagery of a rotten reality… Zaira Wasim is an absolute wonder… She effortlessly conveys the strength of a single-minded artiste, the temper of a hurricane holding back, the impulses of free-spirited adolescence and the guts of a girl who knows who she is.”
Rating: 3.5 stars | Full review
Sukanya Verma, Rediff
“It is such a delight to see a 15-year-old look and feel like a regular teen, dealing disarmingly with first crushes and strumming a guitar properly, and not a painted doll.”
Rating: 2.5 stars | Full review
Shubhra Gupta, Indian Express
“A simple film that is unashamedly saccharine and manipulative, yet has the ability to surprise us in ways small and large.”
Rating: 3.5 stars | Full review
Raja Sen, NDTV
“Feels micro-engineered for emotional impact, down to the last sad violin on the soundtrack.”
Uday Bhatia, Live Mint
“We’ve seen it all before: the same beats, domestic conflicts, evil fathers, patriarchy, submissive wives, bruised faces, oppressive burkhas, glassy-eyed dreams, smashed guitars, rock ballad tunes, digital fame, unlikely mentors, breaking free, speeches, winning. We’ve seen a million kids dream through the patronizing eyes of adult filmmakers who think they can speak to us by over-simplifying life lessons. Yet, this film is mainstream done right.”
Rating: 3 stars | Full review
Rahul Desai, Film Companion
“There are far too many turns in this film that defy logic and render the narrative clichéd and stereotypical. While ‘Secret Superstar’ might have had the good intentions of showcasing Zaira Wasim’s talents as an actress, it clearly does disservice to the craft of filmmaking in the process.”
Rating: 2 stars | Full review
Johnson Thomas, Free Press Journal
“On one hand Secret Superstar gives us a cliche character of a feminist lawyer who is sour and preachy, on the other it gives us a warm, normal, loving mother trying to nurture her daughter’s dreams while presenting herself to a husband who’s given to ritual thrashing… It’ll make you see some things a little differently.”
Rating: 2.5 stars | Full review
Suparna Sharma, Deccan Chronicle
“An inspiring journey towards empowerment, a case for pursuing one’s passion against all odds, a testament to the deep mother-daughter bond, and a convincing depiction of teenage years.”
Rating: 3.5 stars | Full review
Rajeev Masand, News 18
“At the core of it… the film… centres on the amount of care and support it takes to bring up, or nurture, a defiant genius—almost like a delicate plant. Clearly that extreme love and empathy starts from the few good men/women in a society, who believe in you (some you know, many you’re lucky to have met).”
Rating: 4 stars | Full review
Mayank Shekhar, Mid Day
“At some level, the story plays out like a fairy-tale. Yet, it so distinctly belongs to the times we live in, when the world wide web can catapult people to overnight stardom.”
Rating: 3.5 stars | Full review
Stutee Ghosh, The Quint
Layman review
“Loved Aamir’s cameo in Secret Superstar, where he plays the creepy, washed-out music composer Shakti Kumaarr, whose mojo is the absolute belief all women on the planet want to sleep with him; he calls them ‘Babes’. The scene where he hits on his wife’s divorce lawyer’s receptionist—pure gold. Only Aamir can pull it off in the Age of #metoo, making growling noises at the receptionist while scratching his groin. Aamir reminded me of the Fellini masterpiece, ‘City of Women’, where the legendary Marcello Mastrioanni, playing the womanizer Snaporaz, accidentally wanders into a feminist convention attended by scores of women who judge and torment him; he is eventually tried for his masculine crimes. Am dead sure Aamir was watching this film during the shoot.'”
Shubho Sengupta, Adman who loves to cycle
More film reviews by Anna MM Vetticad | Baradwaj Rangan | Batul Mukhtiar | Johnson Thomas | Karan Bali | Mayank Shekhar | Nandini Ramnath | Piyasree Dasgupta | Rahul Desai | Raja Sen | Rajeev Masand | Rajesh Kumar Singh | Saibal Chatterjee | Saumil Gandhi | Shoma Chatterjee | Shubhra Gupta | Stutee Ghosh | Sukanya Verma | Suparna Sharma | Sweta Kaushal | Tanul Thakur | Uday Bhatia | Udita Jhunjhunwala
Secret Superstar on IMDB | on Facebook
Categories
Top Film Reviews
No comment
